Dear Parents,
I’m
pleased to let you know that our class will be participating in ePals Global
Community, the world's largest network of K-12 classrooms. On ePals, as a class, we can safely connect
and collaborate with classrooms in more than 200 countries and territories. We will be using ePals to
increase global awareness, teach digital skills, and to develop
collaborative-learning skills. Many
teachers find individual ePals for their students, allowing them to form global
friendships. ePals also offers amazing
student opportunities, including:
·
participation in Smithsonian
Institution events and contests,
·
writing opportunities, such
as being part of a Global Student Blog Team; and
·
access to award-winning
student magazines such as Cricket and Cobblestone.
I’d like
to assure you that ePals is a very safe online community. All student email goes through me – their
teacher. I view and approve each message
before it goes to your child, and each message that your child writes before it
goes to his/her ePal. Also, all online
activities on ePals (forums, media galleries, blogs, wikis) are reviewed by
ePals moderators, who verify that no private information is shared, no
inappropriate language used. ePals doesn’t rely merely on filters. This extra level of safety is indicative of
the safety and security of this site.
ePals is
accessible 24/7 from any computer. Students have their own log on information,
and can connect, share
content, access homework, participate in discussions and receive class information from any computer, anytime. All of our
participation on ePals (and your too, should you desire—they offer parent
accounts) is free.
We are
participating in the Jump into ePal Class which is moderated by a staff member
at ePals and has connected us with classes from London, California, Canada,
Florida, India and New Jersey. Our pals around the world are all in fourth
or fifth grade. We will share discussion
with all of these classrooms and our email pals are in Mrs. Hoskins class from
London.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Thank you,
Mrs. HIll
